A NATIONAL health watchdog has termed Wimpy Homes “careless” for not putting up signs to warn parents of the possible dangers from contamination at a Knaphill play area.

Oil spillage from the former Brookwood Hospital gas works off Redding Way was discovered at the site following new tests ordered under stricter safety guidelines introduced by the government. However, since its construction in December 1999, the community has been gaining access to the locked park through insecure fencing. Playground advisor for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Peter Heseltine said: “People should have been warned about the contamination and then they could make their own informed decision. He added: “Where children are concerned additional care has to be taken and that includes appropriate signage and secure fencing.” When the News and Mail visited the large play area, there was a smell of gas and an elderly woman watching her three-year-old granddaughter playing on the swings. She wished not to be named but said: “Everyone brings their children to play here. “It is a lovely park and it is torture for the children to walk past everyday without being able to go on the slide or the swings.” Tim Hill, managing director of Wimpy Homes Southern, walked the site on Friday following last week’s exclusive story in this newspaper. He said there was no “hush up” operation by the developer or the council to hide the fact that some of the soil could be poisoned. Although understanding that children might be tempted by the facilities, Mr Hill said he could not be responsible for trespassers. He added: “We have now rectified the problems with gaps in the fencing and ‘keep out’ signs have been put up.” Test results released this week proved the site clear of contamination. Mr Hill said: “Any remedial work now will be a gesture of goodwill rather than a necessity. “We are satisfied that the area is clean and once it is adopted by Woking Borough Council we can open it.” Last week he had said: “It is unidentified hydrocarbon and there is no immediate health issue unless you are exposed to it.” Woking Council had said: “Any fuel has a carcinogenic material risk problem. The reality is we are surrounded by them.” Knaphill Residents’ Association is disturbed by the level of secrecy and lack of information available. Chairman Arthur Raynes said: “We know the council is investigating it. “It has kept it very quiet. For some reason we are not being given all the information.” Explaining similar cases had previously arisen with developers building play areas on contaminated land, RoSPA’s Mr Heseltine said: “Land used for such purposes is usually what is left over from a housing development. “That is why this happens. Nobody wants to live next door to a playground and it is obviously not going to make a profit so the most undesirable pieces of land are normally allocated to it.” A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The land is out of our remit but we are keeping an eye on the situation.” For information on safety in playgrounds visit the RoSPA website at www.rospa.co.uk.